Trio of signings for York Cricket Club (From York Press)

Trio of signings for York Cricket Club

11:38am Wednesday 9th January 2013 in Sport

A TRIO of big signings could push York Cricket Club to a magnificent seven.

England Under-19 batsman Jack Leaning is the Clifton Park club’s marquee grab – having signed from Yorkshire Academy.

The 19-year-old Heworth-based player, son of former York City goalkeeper Andy, is considered a hot property at Headingley and will bolster an already formidable York batting line-up as they go for a seventh consecutive Solly Sports Yorkshire ECB County Premier League title.

As a 14-year-old, Leaning wrote himself into the Yorkshire record-books when hitting an unbeaten 164 during the under-14 squad’s clash with Cheshire – elevating himself above the likes of Michael Vaughan and current Tykes skipper Andrew Gale.

He has already broken into the first team ranks at Yorkshire, playing in a CB40 match against Warwickshire at Scarborough last season.

Leaning will be joined at York by Tom Love, who has arrived from Drakes Huddersfield League premier division outfit Scholes – conquerors of York to win the Black Sheep Yorkshire Champions Trophy in 2010 – and Jonathan Moxon, son of Yorkshire director of cricket, Martyn.

Club secretary Nick Kay said the signings were a statement of intent from a club that wanted to push on even further following the Kingfisher Beer Cup victory last season that saw them hailed as the best side in the country.

“Jack is a terrific signing for us. I think he’s got a second team contract at Yorkshire and he has been captain of the Academy for the last two years,” he said.

“He is an incredibly mature cricketer for his age and he will bring some professionalism to our top six. He wants to move on to the next level and it is great to have him.

“Second XI cricket will not impact on York and, if he gets called up to the full county team, we will lose him but we will be happy to lose him.

“We are expecting him to be available throughout the season. He is a quality league cricketer with aspirations to go higher.

“With Jonathan, Yorkshire are keeping a close eye on a back injury but, hopefully, he will be released to play league cricket for the summer and he has definite first team credentials.

“Tom played against us in the Black Sheep final and scored 30-odd. He is a top order batsman who will be pushing for a first team place.”

Kay added that the signings will keep current team members on their toes. “It will rejig our line-up but it will make the guys want to do better,” he said. “We have to look at ways to improve.”